Ye Zhongzhong, a national model worker who died on May 8, 2024, was born in 1940 into a family with a deep tradition of lighthouse guardianship. The trajectory of his life is closely linked to the White Festival Lighthouse on the island, which was originally established by the British in 1883. Since his grandfather Ye Lairong, he has taken on the responsibility of the first generation of lighthouse workers in China. This profession has been passed down from generation to generation in the Ye family and has become a family mission. Ye Zhongzhong's father, Ye Ayue, inherited this responsibility and passed it on to Ye Zhongzhong, allowing him to grow up under the protection of the lighthouse since he was a child.
When Ye Zhongzhong was a five-year-old boy, a violent storm brought about a major change in his life. He witnessed the tragic scene of his father being swept away by the waves as he tried to protect the island's supply ships. This scene was deeply engraved in his heart, and it gave him a deep understanding of the meaning of the sea and the lighthouse from an early age. At the age of 20, Ye Zhongzhong took over his grandfather Ye Lairong's class and officially became a new generation of tower keepers. He devoted himself to the small lighthouse on this isolated island, using his own hands and sweat to maintain the light of the lighthouse and ensure the safety of sea navigation. In the face of such a major family responsibility and historical mission, does Ye Zhongzhong's choice let us see a kind of perseverance and inheritance across the era?
Ye Zhong's daily life on Hakujie Island is full of challenges. The living conditions on the island are very difficult, especially the lack of fresh water resources, which is undoubtedly a great test for Ye Zhong. In his time, the island's tower keepers relied only on collecting rainwater or using homemade rudimentary filters to solve their drinking problems. Although this method is barely enough to survive, drinking such water for a long time can easily lead to health problems. In addition, due to the island's location that is vulnerable to typhoons, it is difficult to feed crops and livestock, which makes life even more difficult for Ye Zhong.
Not only that, but Ye Zhong also needs to take on the responsibility of maintaining the lighthouse. Due to the lack of technicians on the island, he had to play multiple roles by himself, both as a tower keeper and as a maintenance worker. He often needs to make emergency repairs in bad weather to ensure that the lighthouse can be functioned properly. Food supplies are also a big problem, and sometimes supply ships can't reach after several days of typhoons, putting Ye Zhong and other people on the island at risk of running out of food. In this case, his diet is extremely simple, sometimes just a bowl of soy sauce rice, and occasionally eating some small pickles is a rare delicacy for him.
Even in the face of such a harsh living environment, Ye Zhongzhong still stuck to his post and maintained the operation of the lighthouse day and night. On the night of the typhoon, even though the wind was strong, he bravely rushed out of the house at risk of his personal safety to ensure that the lights of the lighthouse were not extinguished and to guide the ships sailing at sea. This kind of selfless dedication to duty is admirable. In such a difficult environment, isn't Ye Zhongzhong's perseverance the best interpretation of the sense of responsibility of the lighthouse keeper?
Ye Zhongzhong's life is not only perseverance and duty, he has also experienced violent personal tragedy. On the eve of the Chinese New Year in 1971, what should have been a joyous moment of family reunion turned into a permanent painful memory. Ye Zhongzhong's wife and two daughters came to the island by boat to celebrate the Spring Festival with him, but unfortunately encountered the raging sea on the way, and the boat capsized, resulting in the tragic death of his wife and five-year-old daughter, only the eldest daughter was lucky to be rescued. This accident was a heavy blow to Ye Zhongzhong, and it was difficult for him to recover from it for a long time.
Despite such a painful loss, Ye Zhongzhong did not give up his post. His life still revolves around the lighthouse, and he continues to be alone on the island as a guardian of the waterway. In 1984, he introduced his son to this position, so that the role of lighthouse keeper was inherited by the fourth generation of the Ye family. His son inherited the family's sense of responsibility and, like him, made sure every day that the lighthouse would illuminate the darkness and guide the Lost Wanderers home.
This dedication and selfless dedication to his duties has won Ye Zhongzhong many honors in his life, including the titles of "National Best Lighthouse Worker" and "National Model Worker". These accolades are not only a recognition of his personal hard work, but also an affirmation of his family's sense of responsibility that has been passed down from generation to generation. In the face of so many personal losses and professional challenges, isn't Ye Zhongzhong's life without regrets the most profound interpretation of the belief that "people are on the light"?